Fluid power trainer tray



Jan. 16, 1968 B. s. M KINLEY FLUID POWER TRAINER TRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, 1966 INVENTOR. 2/14 7 SJQ X WA by Q Jan. 16, 1968 Filed March 10, 1966 B S. M KINLEY FLUID POWER TRAINER TRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,363,340 FLUID POWER TRAINER TRAY Billy Stewart McKinley, Donelson, Tenn., assignor to Electromatic Mfg. Co., Inc., McMinnville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Filed Mar. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 533,168 6 Claims. (CI. 35-60) This invention relates to a fluid power training device for use with either pneumatic or hydraulic systems, and more particularly to a tray adapted to be mounted on said training device for supporting various fluid power components in numerous positions.

Since the primary function of a fluid power training device is to train the student to learn, study, set-up and handle numerous fluid power systems including various types of fluid power components, as well as various arrangements of these components, the ability to mount, assemble, and dis-assemble the components upon the training device with a minimum of effort and time is of great benefit, not only to the student, but also to the instructor. Valuable time which should be employed in learning the functions and applications of the systems is often wasted in the mere mechanical motions of assembling and disassembling the components.

Heretofore, the components have been mounted on the trainer table by a method in which the fluid power tubing and clamps support the components, or by a method in which a sub-plate is provided for each component and fastened to a bulkhead. In the latter system, there must be sufi'icient and properly spaced threaded holes in the components for mating with the holes in the sub-plates in order for the components to be secured to the bulkhead. In other words, regardless of the number or the spacing of the holes, the sub-plate mounting method must manifestly include a certain amount of standardization of holes, bolts and sub-plates.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel means for mounting the fluid power components upon a training device quickly, easily and without standardization.

It is another object of this invention to provide a universal mounting means for supporting fluid power components upon a training device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a universal mean for fluid power components in a training device incorporating trays having transversely and longitudinally adjustable anchor means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tray having a transversely movable strut member supporting a longitudinally movable anchor member.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a fluid power training device including pneumatic power apparatus and components mounted on trays made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the lefthand portion of the training device disclosed in FIG. 1, showing a single tray without the pneumatic components;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a tray made in accordance with this invention, with parts broken away;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, FIG. 1 discloses a fluid power training device, and more particularly a pneumatic training device 10 including an open,

3,363,340 Patented Jan. 16, 1968 table frame 11 having front and rear upper, elongated, spaced supporting members 12 and 13. Spaced above and slightly forward of the rear supporting member 13 is an alternate elongated supporting member 14.

Spaced below the level of the upper supporting members 12, 13 and 14 is a base frame 16 for supporting thepower apparatus, such as the air compressor 17 and the compressed air tank 18. An electrical control box 19 may be mounted on the side of the table frame 11, and a rear panel 20 may be supported in an upright position above the rear of the table frame 11 to support the various gauges 21 and electrical outlet jacks 22. A compressed air manifold 24 is shown supported behind the elongated supporting member 13 and having a plurality of outlets for connecting the various pneumatic lines to the pneumatic components, such as 25, 26 and 27.

As disclosed in FIG. 1, each of the components 25, 26 and 27 are mounted on rectangular, open-frame trays 30 and 30', of which four are disclosed. Each of the trays 30 and 30' in FIG. 1 are identical in size and construction and are adapted to be mounted side-by-side to span the longitudinal members 12 and 13, or 12 and 14, as desired. The trays 30 are shown spanning members 12 and 14, while the trays 30 span members 12 and 13.

Each rectangular tray 30 includes a pair of elongated side bars 31 and 32 of equal length and spaced parallel to each other. The length of each bar 31 and 32 is slightly longer than the spacing between the front supporting member 12 and the rear member 13 or 14, so that the ends of the side bars 31 and 32 will rest upon the corresponding supporting members. A pair of end bars 33 and 34 of equal length are fixed between and rigidly to the side bars 31 and 32 adjacent their ends in order to define the rigid rectangular frame-work of the tray 30. However, in the preferred construction, the end bars 33 and 34 depend below the plane of the side bars 31 and 32, and are spaced from the ends of the side bars 31 and 32 sufficiently that the end bars 33 and 34 will substantially abut the corresponding supporting member 12 and 14 when the tray 30 is in operative position, as disclosed in FIG. 3. Thus, the depending end bars 33 and 34 will limit the forward and rearward shifting of the tray 30 upon the table frame 11. The lateral shifting of the trays 30 and 30' may be avoided by placing the trays 30 and 30' against each other, side-by-side.

A plurality of elongated struts 37 extend transversely of the rectangular tray 30 and have end members 39 and 40 slidably engaging the side bars 31 and 32 for movement transversely of the strut 37 and longitudinally of the side bars 31 and 32. Mounted for slidable movement longitudinally of the strut 37 is one or more anchor members, such as the square nut 42.

It Will be noted in the drawings that the side bars 31 and 32, the end bars 33 and 34 and the struts 37 are elongated channel-shaped members. The channel-shape construction of the side bars 31 and 32 provide elongated tracks or guideways 44 for slidably receiving a runner member 45 depending from the end member 39 of each strut 37. The runner member 45 is disclosed as simply a nut suspended from the end member 39, which is a simple strap, by a bolt 46. The runner member or nut 45 slidably engages the edges of the track 44. The inner end of the end member or strap 39 is fixedly secured by a bolt and nut to the channel-shaped strut 37. The construction of both end members 39 and 40 is identical. In this manner, the strut 37 may move transversely of itself, or longitudinally of the tray 30 or side bars 31 and 32, on the tracks 44.

Each anchor member or nut 42 is of suificient size to be slidably guided by the track 47 formed by the channelshaped cross-section of the strut 37.

Although the end bars 33 and 34 are disclosed as having the same channel-shapes as the side bars 31 and 32 and the strut 37, there is no particular functional significance to the construction of the end bars 33 and 34 except that they may 'be cut from the same stock for convenience and economy.

FIG. discloses how the end bar 34 is secured in depending relationship to the side bar 31 by means of the Z-fitting 49, bolts 50 and nuts 51. Here again, the construction is dictated by economy, standardization and reduction in the number of parts.

The operation of the invention is carried out by placing each tray, such as 30 (FIG. 1), in operative position spanning the supporting members 12 and 13, if it is desired for the trays to be horizontal. In some instances, it may be necessary for the components 25-27 to be assembled upon the trays 30 and 30' in horizontal position. Then the trays may be elevated to span the front supporting member 12 and the upper :re-ar supporting member 14, as illustrated by the left trays 30 in FIG.1 It will be observed that the trays 30 slope from the rear downwardly toward the front, 'which usually presents a better observation of the system to the student.

A component, such as pneumatic cylinder 25, is assembled in its appropriate position by first moving the strut or struts 37, until the anchor member or nut 42 is aligned in the longitudinal direction of the table frame 11 with the mating anchor member, such as a threaded bolt, on the cylinder 25. Then the nut 42 is moved longitudinally of the strut 37 until it is in axial alignment with the corresponding bolt on the component 25. This procedure is carried out for each of the components 25, 26 and 27, regardless of the spacing of the bolts or mating anchor members upon the component. The electrical connections are then made with the appropriate outlets 22, and the fluid connections are made through the appropriate pipes or tubing with the outlets of the manifold 24. By reversing the procedure, the components may be easily dis-assembled, rearranged, or replaced with other components.

Moreover, the open framework of each of the trays 30 and 30' renders all parts, such as piping and wires, below the trays accessible to the student or operator.

It will also be understood that the same trays 30 and 30 may be employed in a training device incorporating a hydraulic system including hydraulic components, as Well as for a pneumatic system.

Thus, a tray has been designed for a fluid power training device in which the various fluid power components may be easily mounted, assembled, dis-assembled, arranged and substituted without sacrificing the time required for instruction of the student in the fundamentals of the various fluid power systems. Moreover the trays are adapted for universal positioning of the anchor members 42 in practically any desired location in the plane of the trays for mounting fluid power components.

It therefore will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings, and described in the specification, but only asindicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tray for a fluid power training device having a 4 mounting frame including a pair of elongated spaced parallel supporting members, comprising:

(a) a rectangular frame having opposed side bars and end bars,

(b) means for supporting said rectangular frame upon said supporting members,

(c) means for limiting the movement of said rectangular frame transversely of said supporting members,

(d) at least. one elongated strut having opposite ends and spanning said side bars parallel to said end bars,

(e) means on said opposite ends for slidably engaging said side bars for movement of said strut longitudinally of said side bars,

(f) an anchor member for a fluid power component,

and

(g) means for slidably supporting said anchor member on said strut for movement longitudinally of said strut.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said anchor member comprises a rectangular nut and the means for slidably supporting said anchor member comprises a channel-shaped track extending longitudinally of said strut.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which the opposite ends of said strut comprise depending runner members, and each of said side bars comprises longitudinal guideways for slidably receiving said runner members.

4. The invention according to claim 1 in which the means for supporting said rectangular frame on said supporting members includes opposite end portions on said side bars whose lengths are greater than the transverse spacing between said supporting members so that said end portions rest upon said supporting members in operative position, and the means for limiting the movement of said frame comprises said end bars spaced apart slightly less than said transverse spacing and depending below the plane of said bars for substantially abutting said supporting members in operative position.

5. The invention according to claim 1 in which said supporting members comprise a front supporting member and a rear supporting member spaced above said front supporting member, and said rectangular frame is supported on said supporting members to slope downwardly and forwardly.

6. The invention according to claim 1 in which said mounting frame includes means for supporting apparatus below said rectangular frame for supplying fluid power to said fluid power components on said rectangular frame, said rectangular frame being open so that fluid lines can connect said apparatus and said components through said rectangular frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,708,588 4/1929 Proctor 21l--182 1,739,403 12/1929 Lundberg 2l1l82 X 2,334,776 11/1943 King et a1. 356O FOREIGN PATENTS 348,192 9/1960 Switzerland.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

H. S. SKOGQUIST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TRAY FOR A FLUID POWER TRAINING DEVICE HAVING A MOUNTING FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF ELONGATED SPACED PARALLEL SUPPORTING MEMBERS, COMPRISING: (A) A RECTANGULAR FRAME HAVING OPPOSED SIDE BARS AND END BARS, (B) MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID RECTANGULAR FRAME UPON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS, (C) MEANS FOR LIMITING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID RECTANGULAR FRAME TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS, (D) AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED STRUT HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS AND SPANNING SAID SIDE BARS PARALLEL TO SAID END BARS, (E) MEANS ON SAID OPPOSITE ENDS FOR SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID SIDE BARS FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID STRUT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SIDE BARS, (F) AN ANCHOR MEMBER FOR A FLUID POWER COMPONENT, AND (G) MEANS FOR SLIDABLY SUPPORTING SAID ANCHOR MEMBER ON SAID STRUT FOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID STRUT. 